12 | SUNRAYS JUNE 2014
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Water Matters
Submitted by Carlton M Mathis, Water Management
Pressure Regulating
In a previous article, I noted that 75
percent efficiency is the most any irri-
gation system can hope to achieve. For
comparison, rainfall is considered 100
percent—when we get it, that is. Modi-
fying the water pressure can greatly
improve that efficiency. Irrigation sys-
tems in Sun City Texas, although somewhat generic in
design, are all TCEQ compliant at the time of installation.
The water pressure in Sun City Texas averages about 60
psi at the low end, while irrigation systems are designed
to run optimally between 20 and 40 psi. When heads
are operating above design pressure, water is atomized,
creating a fog or mist and allowing the much smaller
water droplets to dissipate into the air and not the soil.
By lowering the pressure, the water droplets are larger
and fall to the earth. Consider contacting an irrigation
contractor to install a pressure regulation valve at the
beginning of the system to help improve its efficiency,
and to discuss other efficiency options.
Here are some additional water saving ideas:
•Water your landscape in the morning or evening when
temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.
• Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants
retains moisture and saves water, time and money.
• If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering
time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
• Don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, sprinklers, and
hoses periodically for leaks.
MIND YOUR LUMENS and watts
June brings barbecue and neighborhood get-togethers,
all enjoyed outside on our patios. In order to light up the
festivities after dark, we need to convert “watts” to “lu-
mens” in order to comply with the Design Guidelines. The
following chart gives an approximate Wattage to Lumen
conversion to help calculate the total of 1300 Lumens
allowed in the front or back of your home.
Incandescent
Bulb
Wattage
Fluorescent
Bulb Wattage
Approximate
Lumens
40
7
550
60
10
800
75
13
1100
100
18
1600
150
23
2300
Note:
Approximate equivalency; actual Lumen output
could differ from table. Consult manufacturer specs.
Halogen lights differ very widely and reference should
be made solely by manufacturer’s specifications.
Modification Emails
As many of you are already aware, your Community
Association staff, with the approval of the Modifications
Committee, has begun distributing the responses to ap-
plications for modification by email. If you are one of
the people who prefers to use a web email provider,
it
is important to check your spam folder for your
permit
, prior to cleaning it out. The emails are generated
in the early afternoon on the Thursday the Committee
meets. We use the same email on file for Communica-
tor e-blasts when distributing responses, rather than
the handwritten email (which can easily be mistyped)
provided on the application.
July 3rd Celebration
Most importantly, spend at least some of the month of
June planning and decorating your golf cart for the an-
nual Fourth of July parade on July 3rd. Hope to see you
as we celebrate our country’s birth.
Ginny Wagner can be reached at
512-948-7462 or email
Bits of Info from Ginny’s Desk
Submitted by Ginny Wagner,
Community Standards Supervisor
The City of Georgetown limits
outdoor watering to two days per week.
• Odd addresses may irrigate on
Tuesday and/or Saturday
• Even addresses may irrigate on
Wednesday and/or Sunday
• No sprinkler or irrigation system use is permit-
ted on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays.
• No irrigation noon to 7 p.m.
Watering with a hand-held hose or bucket can be
done any day and at any time.
Source:
If you need assistance programming your control-
ler, contact your neighborhood representative to
have a water ambassador help you, or talk to your
landscape/irrigation professional.
